#thebrokenvariable

Organics couldn’t survive in this place for long. It was far too cold for the average human, subzero temperatures causing hypothermia in minutes, if their tongue and eyes didn’t freeze first. The sun rarely showed its face through the ash cloud covering, only glimpses caught in slivers of rays striking the snow in patches like rain.

Why so cold…? Because then nothing was stupid enough to come here. Excluding an idiot cowgirl, apparently.

Or… that’s what his nanos displayed, anyhow. A woman in attire completely unfitting of the timeline, and snow turning to liquid at her feet, then refreezing once outside of her bubble. So, not exactly human, but organic all the same. He meets her far before she even reaches the doors, teleporting in front of her with a beam of light, disdain clear on his face.

“Can I… help you, or do you just intrude wherever you please?”

The arctic expanse is hauntingly beautiful, in a way, something that Zora can appreciate--though she’s always had a fondness for nature and it’s bounties. Even for a desolate place such as this. Or, well, not so desolate after all as she spies that building off in the distance. Her head tilts to one side curiously as she tries to approach, and then--

Whoa. Huh! Okay! Who the HELL is this blonde lookin’ literal streetlamp with last year’s Halloween decorations still taped onto it. He truly did take Zora off guard as she kind of took a bit of step back and looked UP. Didn’t look too happy with her being here, that’s for sure.

“Well, Ah’ dunno what t’ tell YEW, buddy. Ah’ didn’t think ANYONE lived out here in this frozen ice rink straight outta Dante’s Inferno. Ah’m just explorin’?” Usually, Zora would also add some sort of witty quip to that explanation, except. Damn, the vibes this guy was giving off was tripping every single danger alarm in her head and gut. “Didn’t exactly see any signs sayin’ ‘KEEP OUT’ either. Uh. Mah bad?”

Let’s see if you can appeal to his non-existent mercy this time around.

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[TITUS, CALIFORNIA] [DECEMBER 31ST, 6 YEARS AGO]

[ Ø ] -  The present year is drawing to a close.

Breakthroughs in robotic technology have ushered in a new era of peace and prosperity through the invention of Xel: Tiny, microscopic nanites capable of forming into any shape and producing many different kinds of energy. Violence is confined to the Battle Colosseum, where combat robot combatants face off in spectacular duels. Battles for glory and the pursuit of innovation, pushing the limits of both man and machine to new heights and fame.

A true, golden age of everlasting peace...

For them, that is. History is written by the winners--that was a disgusting habit humans always liked to show off in their hubris and greed.

    {➹} – CURIOUSLY, THE HEDGEHOG’S mismatched ears twitched at the other's response, his expression oddly neutral for a moment. He examined the stranger closely, a small frown coming to his tan muzzle. While he was sure he would have remembered someone so much taller than himself, the hero couldn't recall where he might have seen them before. Maybe he was mistaken...

send “▶▶️” to get a glimpse at a scene from my muse’s future.

It’s lazy, the way Rockwell snuggles into him. There was no morning sun to wake the tired hunter, and the vampire was the best source of warmth he could ask for. Though Miden had already been up for a while, he’d been kind enough to let his hunter sleep a bit longer. Sure they needed to eat, but some things could wait. 

A deep breath, and a little hum to find his voice. It’s… been a while. Not that it should make a difference with a machine, but maybe it’s just one of those too-human-habits he’s got.

It’s not quiet when it starts, but it’s soft, like a secret, or a wish whispered low. Underneath, a subtle bass line sets a simple tempo, steady but not too slow.

“♫How I wish you could see the potentialThe potential of you and meIt’s like a book elegantly boundBut in a language that you can’t read just yet

OOOH IT’S SO ON, NOW.

The one problem about have a child whose programming is taken off of two rather powerful reploids is that all that power is combined. It makes for some crazy fights, though Joe isn’t normally the kind to think about head-first. But he just got some snow in his glasses, and for that, IT IS ON LIKE DONKEY KONG.

The teen stoops down to pick up the fallen pair…

Only to whip around and whack his father in the side of the head with a snowball the size of a face.

Okay that? That actually caught him off guard, and off his feet.

Rock laughs as he picks himself up out of the snow, a big stupid grin slapped squarely on his face. Naturually he’s come back up with antoher snowball in hand, tossing it lightly up and down. Oh it’s on alright. He’s going to make this pipsqueak eat snow!

“So you think you can take on your dad do ya~?”